Find out how popular the last name Whale is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Whale.

Whale, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Whale surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Whale in America

Whale is the 66553rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Whale surname appeared 297 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Whale.

We can also compare 2010 data for Whale to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Whale

The surname Whale has its origins in England, with the earliest documented instances appearing in medieval records. The name is derived from the Old English word "hwael," which means whale, indicating a possible nickname for someone who was a fisherman, hunter, or simply large in size. It could also refer to someone who lived near a landmark associated with whales, such as a coastal area or whalebone-constructed place.

Whale appears in historical records dating back to the 13th century. One of the earliest recorded instances of this surname can be traced to the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which lists a John le Whale in Cambridgeshire. The name's inclusion in these extensive land and property records suggests that it had some degree of prominence even in medieval times.

Another notable occurrence of this surname is found in the Poll Tax records of 1379, where the name Willelmus l’Whale was recorded in Yorkshire. These records were essentially a census of property owners, and the appearance of the Whale surname further underscores its established presence in England during the 14th century.

A significant bearer of the Whale surname in later centuries was Sir John Whale, born in 1532. Known for his contributions to maritime navigation, Sir John’s work helped to advance the understanding of coastal England, and his maps were later used as references by other explorers.

In the 18th century, another prominent figure with this surname was Thomas Whale, an artist recognized for his seascapes and marine-themed artwork. Born in 1768, his work became widely appreciated for its vivid representation of life at sea, bringing him considerable acclaim during his lifetime.

Moving into the 19th century, the name reappears with Captain Richard Whale, born in 1820. He was a noted whaler and captain of several prominent whaling ships of his time. His life epitomized the maritime spirit associated with his surname, and he was often mentioned in shipping logs and maritime records of the mid-19th century.

The Whale surname also appears in the ecclesiastical context with Reverend Samuel Whale, born in 1847. Serving as a clergyman in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Reverend Whale was known for his charitable works and contributions to his community in Dorset.

The history of the Whale surname is thus rich and varied, reflecting diverse occupational links, geographic connections, and individual achievements across centuries in England. Each occurrence of the surname adds depth to our understanding of its historical trajectory and significance.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Whale

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Whale.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Whale was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Whale has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Whale was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Whale, please contact us.

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